General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · request

Letter to manager requesting an internal department transfer

You started in your present job two years ago. You now feel it is important for your career development to move to a different department in the same company.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

say what you have learned in your present job
suggest how the company would benefit from moving you to a different department
explain why you do not wish to leave the company

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to formally express my interest in transitioning to the Marketing Department as part of my ongoing professional development within the firm.

Over the past two years in the Operations team, I have developed a deep understanding of our supply chain logistics and internal software systems. Mastering these processes has taught me how to resolve complex operational bottlenecks efficiently and sharpened my ability to communicate effectively across multiple technical teams.

Moving me to the Marketing Department would allow the company to leverage my operational background to create more realistic and data-driven campaigns. My intimate knowledge of the product delivery cycle ensures that any promotional promises made to customers are grounded in logistical reality, thereby reducing the risk of service delays and increasing overall client satisfaction.

I remain deeply committed to our company’s vision and values, which is why I am eager to grow my career here rather than seeking opportunities externally. I believe that my loyalty to the organisation, combined with a fresh departmental perspective, will allow me to contribute even more significantly to our long-term success.

I look forward to discussing how this move could benefit the team.

Yours sincerely,

James Sterling

198 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all three bullet points with professional, cohesive arguments and maintains a consistent semi-formal tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to explain why the company benefits, instead focusing only on the candidate's personal desire for a promotion or change.

Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.
Polite and friendly at once: a few contractions are fine, slang is not. Close with Yours sincerely or Kind regards.
State the purpose in the first two sentences; small talk costs words you need for the bullets.

Useful phrases from the letter

transitioning: changing or moving from one state to another
bottlenecks: situations that cause delay in a process
leverage: using something to maximum advantage
data-driven: determined by or dependent on collected information
intimate knowledge: a very close and detailed understanding
externally: outside of the current company or organisation

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS General writing

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Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?

Semi-formal. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.

How long should an IELTS General Training letter be?

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.